EP0561619B1 - Hydroelectric machines and their installation - Google Patents
Hydroelectric machines and their installation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0561619B1 EP0561619B1 EP93302004A EP93302004A EP0561619B1 EP 0561619 B1 EP0561619 B1 EP 0561619B1 EP 93302004 A EP93302004 A EP 93302004A EP 93302004 A EP93302004 A EP 93302004A EP 0561619 B1 EP0561619 B1 EP 0561619B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- hydraulic machine
- upper cover
- shaft
- installation
- cover
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B3/00—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
- F03B3/16—Stators
- F03B3/18—Stator blades; Guide conduits or vanes, e.g. adjustable
- F03B3/183—Adjustable vanes, e.g. wicket gates
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B11/00—Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups, e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and generator
- F03B11/06—Bearing arrangements
- F03B11/063—Arrangements for balancing axial thrust
- F03B11/066—Arrangements for balancing axial thrust in vertical axis machines
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
- F03B13/08—Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor, e.g. diffusors
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/20—Hydro energy
Definitions
- This invention relates to hydroelectric machines and their installation.
- it is concerned with achieving a hydroelectric installation that can be assembled in a relatively short time, and is vertically compact.
- a conventional hydroelectric installation whether operated as a pump or as a generator, has an electric machine connected vertically above a single-stage hydraulic machine through a shaft connecting the electric rotor to the hydraulic runner.
- a pit is dug and a draft conduit, to take output water, is formed through the bottom of the pit.
- the up-turned pipe of the draft conduit, surrounded by concrete, is used as a basis on which the hydraulic machine is assembled by arranging the spiral casing, speed ring and lower cover thereof on top.
- the runner is placed in the lower cover and the upper cover fitted.
- An operating drive and drive linkage for the guide vanes of the water chamber are positioned above the upper cover, connected to the guide vanes.
- This hydraulic assembly is concreted in place.
- the electric machine is then installed above the hydraulic machine, the main rotor shaft of the electric machine being passed from above through the upper cover and connected to the runner of the hydraulic machine.
- JP-A-56/83572 describes a hydroelectric generator of the type mentioned.
- FR-A-1544592 (equivalent to US-A-3494704) discloses hydroelectric installations having two-stage hydraulic machines.
- the spiral casing is positioned over the guide vane assembly of the first stage, and the discharge channel from the first stage curves up and around the spiral casing and down to the second stage.
- a space is therefore provided beneath the hydraulic machine and an operating unit for operating the guide vanes extends down into this space.
- the general object of this invention is to provide new hydroelectric installations and procedures by which they are installed.
- One preferred object is to make a hydroelectric installation more vertically compact.
- Another preferred object is to reduce total installation time.
- a further preferred object is to reduce the strength requirements for the upper cover of the hydraulic machine.
- a further preferred object is to make the hydraulic machine easier to service and maintain.
- the present invention provides a hydroelectric installation in which an electric machine is installed above a hydraulic machine in an installation pit,
- the present invention provides a method of assembling such a hydroelectric installation comprising
- the hydroelectric installation be formed by establishing a vertically-intermediate fixing location of outer and/or upper parts of the hydraulic machine, particularly the upper cover but usually also the spiral casing, speed ring and upper cover, and then assembling the hydraulic machine from below in a working space established in the pit below this vertically intermediate fixing location.
- the shaft has a thrust bearing which bears down onto the upper cover of the hydraulic machine. This also contributes to compactness, as aforesaid. Very importantly, moreover, it serves to counter upward hydraulic force exerted on the upper cover in operation, so that elaborate precautions to massively reinforce the upper cover are no longer necessary.
- the lower assembly space for the hydraulic machine is conveniently maintained after installation, and enables subsequent disassembly and/or maintenance of the hydraulic machine without the need to dismantle the electric machine first.
- a hydroelectric installation has a single-stage hydraulic machine 1 installed vertically below an electric machine 2 in an installation surround 3. They are connected by a shaft 21 so that the bladed runner 10 of the hydraulic machine 1 rotates with the rotor 22 of the electric machine 2.
- the installation surround 3 is formed in a vertically-dug pit, and defines an annular upper space 4 in which the stator 23 of the electric machine 2 is mounted on a support base 32 resting on an intermediate floor 31 of the pit.
- the installation is a generator, in which the hydraulic machine is driven by a head of water to generate electricity from the electric machine 2.
- these concepts apply also to installations used for pumping, in which the electric machine acts as a motor to drive the hydraulic machine runner.
- the shaft 21 has three bearings.
- An upper radial bearing 24 is supported by brackets 25 extending from the inward wall 33 of the upper space 4, a short distance above the rotor 22.
- a lower radial bearing 125, below the rotor 22, bears against an adjacent inner shoulder of the intermediate floor 31.
- a vertical thrust bearing 26 near the bottom of the shaft 21 acts downwardly against a reinforced upper cover 6 of the hydraulic machine 1.
- the circular upper cover 6, which extends right across the circular opening between the upper space 4 of the electric machine and the lower space 5 of the hydraulic machine, is seen more clearly in Fig. 2 and has, on its essentially circular plate, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 61 which carry bearing points 62 for the thrust bearing 26.
- the shaft 21 runs rotatably through its centre aperture, engaged by a shaft sealing device 63 of known type.
- the periphery of the upper cover 6 is overlapped by concrete 34 of the installation surround, which helps to reinforce it from above against water pressure.
- the general layout of the hydraulic machine 1 is best seen in Fig. 2. Its basic elements are conventional.
- An outer spiral casing (or volute) is defined horizontally within a steel lining embedded in concrete of the installation surround 3. This spiral casing 9 receives water under pressure and guides it into a circular path.
- the spiral casing 9 is open around its inner periphery, where it is welded to a speed ring 8 having upper and lower circular opposed plates connected by static vanes 81 which establish a smooth inward flow of the pressurised water.
- the speed ring plates are welded to the upper and lower covers 6,7 of the hydraulic machine 1 respectively, at their inner peripheries.
- a turbine space is defined between the upper and lower covers 6,7.
- the runner 10 bolted to the bottom of the shaft 21, is rotated in this space by the pressurised water flow which is then exhausted downwardly into a draft conduit 13 leading down to an exhaust pond.
- the draft conduit 13 has an upper part 131 which extends up through the lower space 5 for the hydraulic machine. To help it withstand the weight and pressure forces, it has outer reinforcing ribs 132.
- a lower part 135 of the draft conduit 13 is constituted by a steel liner surrounded and supported by the concrete of the pit installation surround 3.
- the water flow into the turbine space is actively governed by movable guide vanes 111 of a guide vane assembly 11.
- Plural - usually ten to thirty - guide vanes 111 are distributed circumferentially around the turbine space, just inwardly of the speed ring 8, and each is journalled by a vertical shaft 112 engaging in the upper and lower covers 6,7 and drivable in rotation by an operation unit 12.
- the operation unit 12 projects below the bottom cover 7 into the lower space 5 of the installation. It comprises a drive source and means for connecting the drive source to the vanes 111 through the shaft 112.
- the drive is by a servo motor 113 (usually two, disposed diametrically opposite one another) connected to rotate the shafts through a guide link mechanism 114.
- Figure 2 shows also, embedded in the concrete, elements of an adjustable support frame 14, used to align the speed ring and spiral case during construction as will be explained later.
- the hydroelectric installation is accessible at various locations through passages in the concrete of the installation surround 3.
- Figure 1 shows one such passage 35 leading to a location at the thrust bearing 26.
- Other passages leading to other locations are not visible in this section, but will be discussed below.
- the thrust bearing 26 of the electric machine shaft 21 bears down on the upper cover 6 of the hydraulic machine.
- water pressure exerts an enormous upward force - perhaps 10,000 t - against this cover.
- the cover diameter is typically three or four meters.
- this force has been met by massive reinforcement of the cover 6, which reinforcement extends for some distance vertically.
- the thrust bearing 26 of the shaft 21 bears down against the cover 6 rather than against the pit wall as in previous constructions.
- the shaft is subject to the very large hydraulic downforce exerted on the runner 10, and corresponding generally in magnitude to the upward hydraulic force on the cover 6 from below. Consequently there is a substantial cancellation of the upward and downward forces acting on the cover, and the reinforcing ribs 61 thereof can be made relatively modest in size.
- the overlapping of concrete 34 around the periphery of the cover also helps to reinforce it and prevent leakages.
- Installing a hydroelectric generator usually first requires the formation through rock of an intake conduit leading down from a high water source to the installation site, a cave at the installation site, and a discharge (draft) conduit leading down from the site to an exhaust location for the spent water. This laborious procedure is conventional, and not described here.
- the hydroelectric installation is created in the cave by a process of gradual assembly, including forming gradually the concrete installation pit surround 3 which provides location and support for the installation components.
- Figure 3 shows the initial situation, in which a simple concrete lining is provided in the cave.
- the lower draft conduit has its steel liner 135 in the concrete floor 301.
- Fig. 3 also shows a movable crane 15 above the pit. This is conventional for such installations, and its presence is assumed in the subsequent Figures and description.
- a load bearing support frame 14 (Fig. 4) is positioned with its base embedded in the concrete floor, and the preformed spiral casing 9, with the speed ring 8 welded in, is supported thereon as illustrated in Fig. 5. Final welding of the casing 9 may be done after positioning.
- the frame 14 is adjusted to align the casing 9 horizontally.
- These elements are then concreted in by a central concrete bulkhead 302 which surrounds the spiral casing 9 and supports it on the bottom floor 301, leaving only a narrow water access passage 36 to the spiral casing 9, a central circular aperture through the speed ring 8, and a large access passage 37 extending beneath the speed ring 8 and spiral casing 9 to form a lower working space 5 beneath the speed ring.
- the upper cover 6 of the hydraulic machine is then installed across the circular central opening, with its reinforcing ribs 61 projecting upwardly, and fixed around the speed ring 8. Additional concrete 34 is then formed, integrally with the existing concrete bulkhead and walls, to overlap the periphery of the upper cover 6. The upper cover 6 is then held firmly in place and constitutes a vertically intermediate fixing location in the pit, in relation to which both upper and lower components can be assembled.
- the electric machine 2 is subsequently installed above the upper cover 6.
- the stator 23 is supported on the concrete bulkhead 302, which forms an intermediate floor 31 therefor.
- the rotor 22 and its shaft 21 are craned in, the shaft bottom end being inserted onto the thrust bearing 26 mounted on the top plate 6, and the other parts of the shaft 21 being supported by the upper and lower radial bearings described above.
- annular upper working space 4 surrounds the electric machine within the concrete wall 303.
- Fig. 8 shows how the bottom end of the shaft 21 is inserted down through the central aperture of the cover 6 so as to be ready for fitting of the runner 10.
- Figs. 8 to 10 and 13 illustrate the basic steps of installing the hydraulic machine.
- a servo-controlled hydraulic lift 16 is supported over the mouth of the lower draft conduit 135.
- the runner 10 is positioned on the lift platform 161 in alignment beneath the shaft 21, lifted into place and bolted securely to the end of the shaft 21. Because the shaft end and runner 10 are accessible in the working space 5 it is easy to fix the runner 10 directly and securely, by comparison with the conventional assembly in which the runner is already enclosed in the turbine space and the shaft must be secured to it from above.
- each guide vane 111 extends down through a respective bearing hole 71 in the rim of the lower cover 7 to the connecting linkage 114, and upwardly to a free end 112' which is for engagement in a corresponding bearing hole 66 provided at the periphery of the upper cover 6.
- the components of the hydraulic machine can be moved into place at any time after the upper cover 6 and the lower end engagement for the shaft 21 are in place, since the lower working space can accommodate movement, removal and introduction of even the major hydraulic components.
- Figs. 11 and 11(a) illustrate an advantageous way of guiding the top ends 112' of the guide vane shafts 112 into their engagement holes 66 of the upper cover 6.
- a circular template 115 having inner and outer template segments 116,117 fixed together by fasteners 118 to define a circumferential array of precisely-spaced alignment holes 119, is fitted over the upstanding free ends 112' of the guide vane shafts 112.
- the guide vanes and their shafts which would otherwise be liable to misalignment while supported only at their lower ends, are thereby formed into a free-standing aligned array which engages more reliably with the bearing holes 66 of the upper cover 6.
- the template 115 is disassembled and the guide vane assembly 11 shifted to its final securing position.
- the lower cover assembly may be moved by hoisting wires 120 such as shown in Fig. 11.
- Fig. 12 shows another guiding possibility, in which the upper ends 112'' of the guide vane shafts 112 are provided with tapered guide slots 121 opening upwardly, and the top cover holes 66 have downwardly projecting guide pins 122 which engage in the slots 121 at some vertical distance and guide them into exact engagement with the upper bearings.
- Figure 13 shows how the assembly is completed by installing a steel pipe 131 between the central outlet opening 72 of the lower cover 7 and the upward opening of the lower part 135 of the draft conduit 13, thereby forming the upper part of that draft conduit and completing the water path.
- Fig. 14 illustrates a suitable joint for the steel liner pipes 131,135, using long bolts 137 connecting between fixed flanges 113,136 of the upper and lower pipes 131,135.
- a loose flange 138 is fitted on the bolts 137 between the fixed flanges and has a clamping wedge 139 which grips the outer surface of the pipe 131 under the influence of a clamping bolt 140.
- Other methods may be used, of course, and the lower ends of the bolts 137 may be concreted in if desired.
- Figure 13 illustrates, in chart form, the saving in time which the present procedure can achieve in comparison to a conventional procedure, as a result of the freedom to assemble the electric machine while the hydraulic machine is not yet complete.
- H and E refer to the hydraulic and electric installations respectively;
- C and I denote respectively a conventional technique and a procedure embodying the invention.
- Fig. 16 shows how the characteristic construction disclosed herein is advantageous not only at the time of assembly, but also for maintenance.
- the major parts of the hydraulic machine could not be accessed without removing the electric machine.
- this construction there exists a lower working space 5 which of necessity permits movement, removal and introduction of the major hydraulic components. It therefore becomes possible to disassemble the hydraulic machine in that working space 5, without any need to disturb the electric machine.
- the Figure shows, by way of example, removal of the lower cover assembly 7.
- the installation also shows a significant reduction in vertical height, compared with conventional installations. Since the process involves digging a cave in which the machines must fit, this can save a large amount of work by reducing the necessary height of that cave.
- the reduction in height is achieved since the operating unit for the guide vanes projects downwardly from the hydraulic machine, so that the necessary thrust bearing for the shaft need not be spaced upwardly to provide clearance for an upwardly-projecting operating unit but on the contrary can be positioned to bear directly against the upper cover of the hydraulic machine.
- the shaft can therefore be substantially shorter overall. It also obviates the use of an additional radial bearing, which has previously been necessary at the bottom end of the shaft to guide it adjacent the upper cover.
- the height H of the intermediate floor 31 above the median level of the spiral casing 9 can be less than the radius (W) of the spiral casing circumferential axis from the axis of the central shaft 21.
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Description
- This invention relates to hydroelectric machines and their installation. In particular, it is concerned with achieving a hydroelectric installation that can be assembled in a relatively short time, and is vertically compact.
- A conventional hydroelectric installation, whether operated as a pump or as a generator, has an electric machine connected vertically above a single-stage hydraulic machine through a shaft connecting the electric rotor to the hydraulic runner. In the conventional installation procedure, a pit is dug and a draft conduit, to take output water, is formed through the bottom of the pit. The up-turned pipe of the draft conduit, surrounded by concrete, is used as a basis on which the hydraulic machine is assembled by arranging the spiral casing, speed ring and lower cover thereof on top. The runner is placed in the lower cover and the upper cover fitted. An operating drive and drive linkage for the guide vanes of the water chamber are positioned above the upper cover, connected to the guide vanes. This hydraulic assembly is concreted in place. The electric machine is then installed above the hydraulic machine, the main rotor shaft of the electric machine being passed from above through the upper cover and connected to the runner of the hydraulic machine.
- JP-A-56/83572 describes a hydroelectric generator of the type mentioned.
- FR-A-1544592 (equivalent to US-A-3494704) discloses hydroelectric installations having two-stage hydraulic machines. The spiral casing is positioned over the guide vane assembly of the first stage, and the discharge channel from the first stage curves up and around the spiral casing and down to the second stage. To enable operation of the guide vanes, a space is therefore provided beneath the hydraulic machine and an operating unit for operating the guide vanes extends down into this space.
- The installation of a hydroelectric machine is a very long and arduous task. The present inventors have reconsidered the installation procedure and developed a new installation concept which can produce a number of useful advantages.
- The general object of this invention is to provide new hydroelectric installations and procedures by which they are installed.
- One preferred object is to make a hydroelectric installation more vertically compact.
- Another preferred object is to reduce total installation time.
- A further preferred object is to reduce the strength requirements for the upper cover of the hydraulic machine.
- A further preferred object is to make the hydraulic machine easier to service and maintain.
- In one aspect the present invention provides a hydroelectric installation in which an electric machine is installed above a hydraulic machine in an installation pit,
- the hydraulic machine comprising a runner connected to a rotor of the electric machine by an upright shaft,
- an upper cover and a lower cover between which the runner is rotatable,
- a guide vane assembly for controlling water flow between the upper and lower covers from a spiral case, and
- an operating unit for operating guide vanes of the guide vane assembly, the operating unit extending downwardly of the lower cover of the hydraulic machine into a lower assembly space for the hydraulic machine,
- In another aspect the present invention provides a method of assembling such a hydroelectric installation comprising
- (a) securing an upper cover of the hydraulic machine at a vertically intermediate position in the installation pit, then
- (b) assembling the hydraulic machine onto the upper cover from below in a lower assembly space, and
- (c) assembling the electric machine above the upper cover.
- Thus we propose that the hydroelectric installation be formed by establishing a vertically-intermediate fixing location of outer and/or upper parts of the hydraulic machine, particularly the upper cover but usually also the spiral casing, speed ring and upper cover, and then assembling the hydraulic machine from below in a working space established in the pit below this vertically intermediate fixing location.
- In this way, it becomes possible to support components of the electric machine upwardly in relation to the intermediate fixing location at the same time as assembling the lower components of the hydraulic machine. This can reduce overall installation time.
- It also becomes practicable to position an operating unit for guide vanes of the hydraulic machine below the guide vane assembly, in the lower working space instead of above as is conventional. Space above the upper cover, conventionally occupied by this operating unit, is then redundant and the length of the shaft can be reduced accordingly. This improves vertical compactness.
- Furthermore, the shaft has a thrust bearing which bears down onto the upper cover of the hydraulic machine. This also contributes to compactness, as aforesaid. Very importantly, moreover, it serves to counter upward hydraulic force exerted on the upper cover in operation, so that elaborate precautions to massively reinforce the upper cover are no longer necessary.
- The lower assembly space for the hydraulic machine is conveniently maintained after installation, and enables subsequent disassembly and/or maintenance of the hydraulic machine without the need to dismantle the electric machine first.
- We find that with this new concept, vertical compactness can be achieved so that preferably the radius of the hydraulic machine's spiral case is greater than the vertical height from the spiral case's median level to the floor on which the stator of the electric machine is mounted.
- Embodiments of the invention are now described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is a radial vertical section through a first embodiment of hydroelectric installation;
- Figure 2 is a radial vertical section showing enlarged a hydraulic machine of the installation of Fig. 1;
- Figure 3 is a vertical section showing initial forming of a pit and draft conduit;
- Figure 4 is a vertical section showing subsequent installation of a spiral casing and speed ring;
- Figure 5 shows, in plan view, the relation of the spiral casing to a support frame;
- Figure 6 is a vertical section showing subsequent installation of an upper cover;
- Figure 7 is a vertical section showing an electric machine installation above the upper cover;
- Figure 8 shows installation of a turbine runner;
- Figure 9 is a vertical section showing a turbine lower cover before installation;
- Figure 10 shows the turbine lower cover installed;
- Figure 11 shows schematically one way of guiding vane stems when installing the bottom cover, and
- Figure 11(a) shows a detail of the guide;
- Figure 12 shows schematically a second way of guiding vane stems when installing the bottom cover;
- Figure 13 shows in vertical section the hydroelectric installation substantially completed by the addition of a draft pipe;
- Figure 14 shows, in vertical cross-section, joining of a draft pipe;
- Figure 15 is a chart illustrating time saved using the present installation procedure, and
- Figure 16 shows in vertical cross-section how the installation may be disassembled.
- With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a hydroelectric installation has a single-stage
hydraulic machine 1 installed vertically below anelectric machine 2 in aninstallation surround 3. They are connected by ashaft 21 so that thebladed runner 10 of thehydraulic machine 1 rotates with therotor 22 of theelectric machine 2. Theinstallation surround 3 is formed in a vertically-dug pit, and defines an annularupper space 4 in which thestator 23 of theelectric machine 2 is mounted on asupport base 32 resting on anintermediate floor 31 of the pit. In most cases the installation is a generator, in which the hydraulic machine is driven by a head of water to generate electricity from theelectric machine 2. However these concepts apply also to installations used for pumping, in which the electric machine acts as a motor to drive the hydraulic machine runner. - The
shaft 21 has three bearings. An upperradial bearing 24 is supported bybrackets 25 extending from theinward wall 33 of theupper space 4, a short distance above therotor 22. A lowerradial bearing 125, below therotor 22, bears against an adjacent inner shoulder of theintermediate floor 31. Finally, a vertical thrust bearing 26 near the bottom of theshaft 21 acts downwardly against a reinforcedupper cover 6 of thehydraulic machine 1. The circularupper cover 6, which extends right across the circular opening between theupper space 4 of the electric machine and thelower space 5 of the hydraulic machine, is seen more clearly in Fig. 2 and has, on its essentially circular plate, a plurality of reinforcingribs 61 which carrybearing points 62 for thethrust bearing 26. Theshaft 21 runs rotatably through its centre aperture, engaged by ashaft sealing device 63 of known type. The periphery of theupper cover 6 is overlapped byconcrete 34 of the installation surround, which helps to reinforce it from above against water pressure. - The general layout of the
hydraulic machine 1 is best seen in Fig. 2. Its basic elements are conventional. An outer spiral casing (or volute) is defined horizontally within a steel lining embedded in concrete of theinstallation surround 3. Thisspiral casing 9 receives water under pressure and guides it into a circular path. Thespiral casing 9 is open around its inner periphery, where it is welded to aspeed ring 8 having upper and lower circular opposed plates connected bystatic vanes 81 which establish a smooth inward flow of the pressurised water. The speed ring plates are welded to the upper andlower covers hydraulic machine 1 respectively, at their inner peripheries. A turbine space is defined between the upper andlower covers runner 10, bolted to the bottom of theshaft 21, is rotated in this space by the pressurised water flow which is then exhausted downwardly into adraft conduit 13 leading down to an exhaust pond. Thedraft conduit 13 has anupper part 131 which extends up through thelower space 5 for the hydraulic machine. To help it withstand the weight and pressure forces, it has outer reinforcingribs 132. Alower part 135 of thedraft conduit 13 is constituted by a steel liner surrounded and supported by the concrete of thepit installation surround 3. - The water flow into the turbine space is actively governed by
movable guide vanes 111 of aguide vane assembly 11. Plural - usually ten to thirty -guide vanes 111 are distributed circumferentially around the turbine space, just inwardly of thespeed ring 8, and each is journalled by avertical shaft 112 engaging in the upper andlower covers operation unit 12. Theoperation unit 12 projects below thebottom cover 7 into thelower space 5 of the installation. It comprises a drive source and means for connecting the drive source to thevanes 111 through theshaft 112. Typically the drive is by a servo motor 113 (usually two, disposed diametrically opposite one another) connected to rotate the shafts through aguide link mechanism 114. - Figure 2 shows also, embedded in the concrete, elements of an
adjustable support frame 14, used to align the speed ring and spiral case during construction as will be explained later. - The hydroelectric installation is accessible at various locations through passages in the concrete of the
installation surround 3. Figure 1 shows onesuch passage 35 leading to a location at thethrust bearing 26. Other passages leading to other locations are not visible in this section, but will be discussed below. - It is an important feature of this construction that the thrust bearing 26 of the
electric machine shaft 21 bears down on theupper cover 6 of the hydraulic machine. In operation, water pressure exerts an enormous upward force - perhaps 10,000 t - against this cover. The cover diameter is typically three or four meters. Conventionally this force has been met by massive reinforcement of thecover 6, which reinforcement extends for some distance vertically. In this construction, however, the thrust bearing 26 of theshaft 21 bears down against thecover 6 rather than against the pit wall as in previous constructions. In addition to the (relatively small) downforce caused by the mass of the electric machine rotor, the shaft is subject to the very large hydraulic downforce exerted on therunner 10, and corresponding generally in magnitude to the upward hydraulic force on thecover 6 from below. Consequently there is a substantial cancellation of the upward and downward forces acting on the cover, and the reinforcingribs 61 thereof can be made relatively modest in size. - The overlapping of
concrete 34 around the periphery of the cover also helps to reinforce it and prevent leakages. - The engagement of the thrust bearing 26 against the
upper cover 6 is made possible by disposing the operatingunit 12 of theguide vane assembly 11 on the lower side of the hydraulic machine, instead of on the upper side as is conventional. In turn, this feature can be achieved by a special installation procedure which is now described with reference to Figs. 3 to 14. - Installing a hydroelectric generator usually first requires the formation through rock of an intake conduit leading down from a high water source to the installation site, a cave at the installation site, and a discharge (draft) conduit leading down from the site to an exhaust location for the spent water. This laborious procedure is conventional, and not described here.
- The hydroelectric installation is created in the cave by a process of gradual assembly, including forming gradually the concrete
installation pit surround 3 which provides location and support for the installation components. - Figure 3 shows the initial situation, in which a simple concrete lining is provided in the cave. The lower draft conduit has its
steel liner 135 in theconcrete floor 301. Fig. 3 also shows amovable crane 15 above the pit. This is conventional for such installations, and its presence is assumed in the subsequent Figures and description. - A load bearing support frame 14 (Fig. 4) is positioned with its base embedded in the concrete floor, and the preformed
spiral casing 9, with thespeed ring 8 welded in, is supported thereon as illustrated in Fig. 5. Final welding of thecasing 9 may be done after positioning. Theframe 14 is adjusted to align thecasing 9 horizontally. These elements are then concreted in by a centralconcrete bulkhead 302 which surrounds thespiral casing 9 and supports it on thebottom floor 301, leaving only a narrowwater access passage 36 to thespiral casing 9, a central circular aperture through thespeed ring 8, and alarge access passage 37 extending beneath thespeed ring 8 andspiral casing 9 to form alower working space 5 beneath the speed ring. - Above the
bulkhead 302 is defined anupper working space 4 with a surroundingwall 303 seen better in Fig. 6. - The
upper cover 6 of the hydraulic machine is then installed across the circular central opening, with its reinforcingribs 61 projecting upwardly, and fixed around thespeed ring 8.Additional concrete 34 is then formed, integrally with the existing concrete bulkhead and walls, to overlap the periphery of theupper cover 6. Theupper cover 6 is then held firmly in place and constitutes a vertically intermediate fixing location in the pit, in relation to which both upper and lower components can be assembled. - The
electric machine 2 is subsequently installed above theupper cover 6. Specifically, thestator 23 is supported on theconcrete bulkhead 302, which forms anintermediate floor 31 therefor. Therotor 22 and itsshaft 21 are craned in, the shaft bottom end being inserted onto the thrust bearing 26 mounted on thetop plate 6, and the other parts of theshaft 21 being supported by the upper and lower radial bearings described above. - Excepting the shaft and the use of the thrust bearing 26 onto the
upper cover 6, the components of the electric machine and their modes of installation may as such be conventional. - After installation, an annular
upper working space 4 surrounds the electric machine within theconcrete wall 303. - Fig. 8 shows how the bottom end of the
shaft 21 is inserted down through the central aperture of thecover 6 so as to be ready for fitting of therunner 10. - Figs. 8 to 10 and 13 illustrate the basic steps of installing the hydraulic machine. Firstly, as shown in Fig. 8, a servo-controlled
hydraulic lift 16 is supported over the mouth of thelower draft conduit 135. Therunner 10 is positioned on thelift platform 161 in alignment beneath theshaft 21, lifted into place and bolted securely to the end of theshaft 21. Because the shaft end andrunner 10 are accessible in the workingspace 5 it is easy to fix therunner 10 directly and securely, by comparison with the conventional assembly in which the runner is already enclosed in the turbine space and the shaft must be secured to it from above. - The next stage is the installation of the
lower cover 7, on which theguide vane assembly 11 and itsoperating unit 12 are pre-assembled. Theshaft 112 of eachguide vane 111 extends down through arespective bearing hole 71 in the rim of thelower cover 7 to the connectinglinkage 114, and upwardly to a free end 112' which is for engagement in acorresponding bearing hole 66 provided at the periphery of theupper cover 6. - After installing the
runner 10, thelift 16 is lowered and thelower cover assembly 7 positioned on itsplatform 161 as seen in Fig. 9. - The assembly is then lifted towards the
upper cover 6 andrunner 10 until the free ends 112' of theguide vane shafts 112 engage in their corresponding bearing holes 66 of theupper cover 6. The upper andlower covers - In this procedure, the components of the hydraulic machine can be moved into place at any time after the
upper cover 6 and the lower end engagement for theshaft 21 are in place, since the lower working space can accommodate movement, removal and introduction of even the major hydraulic components. - Figs. 11 and 11(a) illustrate an advantageous way of guiding the top ends 112' of the
guide vane shafts 112 into theirengagement holes 66 of theupper cover 6. Acircular template 115 having inner and outer template segments 116,117 fixed together byfasteners 118 to define a circumferential array of precisely-spaced alignment holes 119, is fitted over the upstanding free ends 112' of theguide vane shafts 112. The guide vanes and their shafts, which would otherwise be liable to misalignment while supported only at their lower ends, are thereby formed into a free-standing aligned array which engages more reliably with the bearing holes 66 of theupper cover 6. Once engaged, thetemplate 115 is disassembled and theguide vane assembly 11 shifted to its final securing position. - Instead of using a lift, the lower cover assembly may be moved by hoisting
wires 120 such as shown in Fig. 11. - Fig. 12 shows another guiding possibility, in which the upper ends 112'' of the
guide vane shafts 112 are provided with taperedguide slots 121 opening upwardly, and the top cover holes 66 have downwardly projecting guide pins 122 which engage in theslots 121 at some vertical distance and guide them into exact engagement with the upper bearings. - Figure 13 shows how the assembly is completed by installing a
steel pipe 131 between the central outlet opening 72 of thelower cover 7 and the upward opening of thelower part 135 of thedraft conduit 13, thereby forming the upper part of that draft conduit and completing the water path. Fig. 14 illustrates a suitable joint for the steel liner pipes 131,135, usinglong bolts 137 connecting between fixed flanges 113,136 of the upper and lower pipes 131,135. Aloose flange 138 is fitted on thebolts 137 between the fixed flanges and has a clampingwedge 139 which grips the outer surface of thepipe 131 under the influence of aclamping bolt 140. Other methods may be used, of course, and the lower ends of thebolts 137 may be concreted in if desired. - Figure 13 illustrates, in chart form, the saving in time which the present procedure can achieve in comparison to a conventional procedure, as a result of the freedom to assemble the electric machine while the hydraulic machine is not yet complete. H and E refer to the hydraulic and electric installations respectively; C and I denote respectively a conventional technique and a procedure embodying the invention.
- Fig. 16 shows how the characteristic construction disclosed herein is advantageous not only at the time of assembly, but also for maintenance. In prior constructions, the major parts of the hydraulic machine could not be accessed without removing the electric machine. In this construction, there exists a
lower working space 5 which of necessity permits movement, removal and introduction of the major hydraulic components. It therefore becomes possible to disassemble the hydraulic machine in that workingspace 5, without any need to disturb the electric machine. The Figure shows, by way of example, removal of thelower cover assembly 7. - The installation also shows a significant reduction in vertical height, compared with conventional installations. Since the process involves digging a cave in which the machines must fit, this can save a large amount of work by reducing the necessary height of that cave. The reduction in height is achieved since the operating unit for the guide vanes projects downwardly from the hydraulic machine, so that the necessary thrust bearing for the shaft need not be spaced upwardly to provide clearance for an upwardly-projecting operating unit but on the contrary can be positioned to bear directly against the upper cover of the hydraulic machine. The shaft can therefore be substantially shorter overall. It also obviates the use of an additional radial bearing, which has previously been necessary at the bottom end of the shaft to guide it adjacent the upper cover.
- In particular (Fig. 1) the height H of the
intermediate floor 31 above the median level of thespiral casing 9 can be less than the radius (W) of the spiral casing circumferential axis from the axis of thecentral shaft 21.
the shaft bears downwardly onto the upper cover of the hydraulic machine through a thrust bearing.
Claims (14)
- A hydroelectric installation in which an electric machine (2) is installed above a hydraulic machine (1) in an installation pit (3),the hydraulic machine (1) comprising a runner (10) connected to a rotor (22) of the electric machine (2) by an upright shaft (21),an upper cover (6) and a lower cover (7) between which the runner (10) is rotatable,a guide vane assembly (11) for controlling water flow between the upper and lower covers (6,7) from a spiral case (9), andan operating unit (12) for operating guide vanes (111) of the guide vane assembly (11), the operating unit (12) extending downwardly of the lower cover (7) of the hydraulic machine (1) into a lower assembly space (5) for the hydraulic machine,characterised in that
the shaft (21) bears downwardly onto the upper cover (6) of the hydraulic machine (1) through a thrust bearing (26). - A hydroelectric installation according to claim 2, in which the shaft (21) has only two radial bearings (24,25), one above and one below the rotor (22).
- A hydroelectric installation according to claim 1 or 2 in which an inward extension (34) of the installation pit wall overlaps the periphery of the upper cover (6) of the hydraulic machine (1).
- A hydroelectric installation according to any one of the preceding claims in which a stator (23) of the electric machine (1) is supported on an intermediate floor (31) defined by the wall of the installation pit, and the vertical height (H) of said intermediate floor (31) above the center level of the spiral case (9) of the hydraulic machine (1) is not greater than any radius of the centre of the spiral case (9) from the axis of the shaft (21).
- A hydroelectric installation according to any one of the preceding claims in which an upper draft conduit pipe (131) extends up through the lower assembly space (5) and connects to an outlet opening (72) of the lower cover (7).
- A hydroelectric installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the hydraulic machine is a single-stage hydraulic machine.
- A method of assembling a hydroelectric installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
comprising(a) securing an upper cover (6) of the hydraulic machine (1) at a vertically intermediate position in the installation pit, then(b) assembling the hydraulic machine (1) onto the upper cover (6) from below in a lower assembly space (5), and(c) assembling the electric machine (2) above the upper cover (6). - A method according to claim 7 in which steps (b) and (c) overlap in time.
- A method according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which in step (a) a spiral case (9) and a speed ring (8) of the hydraulic machine (1) are first fixed at said vertically intermediate position, and the upper cover (6) is then secured in relation thereto.
- A method according to any one of claims 7 to 9 in which step (b) comprises lifting a runner (10), lower cover (7), guide vane assembly (11) and guide vane assembly operating unit (12) towards the upper cover (6) in the lower assembly space (5), and fixing them in position.
- A method according to claim 10 in which vane stems (112) of the guide vane assembly (11) are aligned with respective receiving locations (66) in the upper cover (6) by guide means (115;121,122) as the guide vane assembly (11) is lifted into place.
- A method according to any one of claims 7 to 11 in which, in step (c), the shaft (21) is lowered to rest on the upper cover (6) through the thrust bearing (26).
- A method according to claim 12 in which the runner (10) of the hydraulic machine (1) is lifted and secured to the end of the shaft (21) after the shaft (21) is lowered.
- A method of disassembling or servicing a hydroelectric installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the hydraulic machine is disassembled or serviced in the lower assembly space (5) thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP4063145A JPH05263750A (en) | 1992-03-19 | 1992-03-19 | Hydraulic power generating equipment |
JP6314592 | 1992-03-19 | ||
JP63145/92 | 1992-03-19 | ||
JP4233320A JPH0681760A (en) | 1992-09-01 | 1992-09-01 | Assembly or disassembly of waterwheel power generating device |
JP23332092 | 1992-09-01 | ||
JP233320/92 | 1992-09-01 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0561619A1 EP0561619A1 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
EP0561619B1 true EP0561619B1 (en) | 1996-06-12 |
EP0561619B2 EP0561619B2 (en) | 2003-02-05 |
Family
ID=26404232
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93302004A Expired - Lifetime EP0561619B2 (en) | 1992-03-19 | 1993-03-17 | Hydroelectric machines and their installation |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5364229A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0561619B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69303085T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3798457B2 (en) * | 1996-01-23 | 2006-07-19 | 株式会社東芝 | Hydraulic machine |
US5905311A (en) * | 1997-01-22 | 1999-05-18 | Voith Hydro, Inc. | Integrated hydroelectric unit |
US20040101401A1 (en) * | 2002-11-25 | 2004-05-27 | Gerler Timothy David | Electromagnetic coupling device for control of hydraulic turbines |
CN101793268B (en) * | 2005-06-06 | 2013-05-08 | 格布尔·贝克尔有限责任公司 | Radial fan |
DE102015203630B3 (en) * | 2015-03-02 | 2016-03-31 | Voith Patent Gmbh | Method for mounting a diffuser |
WO2020192867A1 (en) | 2019-03-22 | 2020-10-01 | Voith Patent Gmbh | Method for assembling a hydropower device |
CN113757262B (en) * | 2021-08-30 | 2023-03-24 | 安徽金寨抽水蓄能有限公司 | Rigid supporting structure of thrust pad |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1516095A (en) * | 1922-06-13 | 1924-11-18 | Worthington Pump & Mach Corp | Hydraulic turbine plant |
US2770943A (en) * | 1951-03-21 | 1956-11-20 | Alan Muntz & Co Ltd | Turbines operated by free-piston gas generators |
US3276742A (en) * | 1963-11-05 | 1966-10-04 | Hitachi Ltd | Vertical shaft kaplan water turbines |
FR1544592A (en) * | 1966-11-21 | 1968-10-31 | Charmilles Sa Ateliers | Hydraulic machine |
CH447979A (en) * | 1966-11-21 | 1967-11-30 | Charmilles Sa Ateliers | Hydraulic machine |
ES349871A1 (en) * | 1967-02-09 | 1969-04-16 | Nydqvist & Holm Ab | Stay ring for water turbines and the like |
JPS4937034A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1974-04-06 | ||
DE2440549A1 (en) * | 1974-08-21 | 1976-03-04 | Siemens Ag | MACHINE SET WITH VERTICAL SHAFT, IN PARTICULAR HYDROPOWER MACHINE SET |
JPS5788271A (en) * | 1980-11-25 | 1982-06-02 | Hitachi Ltd | Draft tube for use in hydraulic machine |
JPS57170040A (en) * | 1981-04-14 | 1982-10-20 | Hitachi Ltd | Hydraulic power rotary electric machine |
-
1993
- 1993-03-17 EP EP93302004A patent/EP0561619B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-03-17 DE DE69303085T patent/DE69303085T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-03-18 US US08/034,392 patent/US5364229A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69303085T3 (en) | 2003-06-12 |
EP0561619A1 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
EP0561619B2 (en) | 2003-02-05 |
US5364229A (en) | 1994-11-15 |
DE69303085D1 (en) | 1996-07-18 |
DE69303085T2 (en) | 1997-01-23 |
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